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RNZ News
a day ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Thames MSD staff refuse to work at mould, sewage smelling office any longer
The temporary Ministry of Social Development office operated out of the Wintec Building in Queen Street, Thames until Monday. Photo: Googlemaps More than a dozen Ministry of Social Development staff walked off the job over what they say is an unsafe office with a ''strong mould and sewage smell". Staff stopped working in the ministry's Thames office on Monday, leaving 12,000 clients without a face-to-face service. The office was supposed to be a temporary space, after the Ministry of Social Development closed its main office in Pollen Street in November 2023 due to damage. But there's been ongoing issues with the temporary building. Staff moved out for a period of time last year, and last month it was closed for three days for security and privacy upgrades. The Public Service Association has now issued MSD with a Provisional Improvement Notice under the Health and Safety at Work Act, which requires the employer to address concerns about health and safety. MSD has redeployed staff to Paeroa which was 33km away. Thames Community Board chairperson Adrian Catran told Checkpoint the situation for clients trying to go to MSD was "terrible". "Twelve thousand clients in and around Thames and in the Coromandel Peninsula are unable to have face-to-face contact with MSD in Thames." Catran said it was "wrong" that clients wanting to visit MSD in person would have to travel to Paeroa. "There is no actual transport available to just travel to Paeroa at the moment, so that means they have to find their own way." MSD staff have been working in the temporary office for 18 months, despite the space originally being used as a solution for four weeks. Catran said the temporary office has had a number of issues over a long period of time. "The building is not really fit-for-purpose and had shortcomings anyway. Now it appears that has manifested itself to a point that staff won't work there. "It's had other problems in terms of the space is too small for 13 staff for example, client privacy is not available within the building to the extent that a lot of clients wanted." He said on a previous occasion the ceiling had collapsed in another room in the building. The original building had been vacated due to black mould and water leaks, but had now reopened as a fruit shop, Catran added. Last year local MP Scott Simpson issued a statement saying it was unacceptable for people to have to travel to Paeroa to see MSD staff in person, which Catran said was still relevant today. The Ministry of Social Development told Checkpoint the Thames Service Centre was temporarily closed on Monday and staff were redeployed to Paeroa Service Centre. They had access to vehicles for travel. Acting Regional Commissioner, Sharlene Horne, said MSD was working through concerns about the building in conjunction with the landlord, while also working on securing new long-term premises that met the ministry's requirements. Horne said MSD was working to reopen the Thames Service Centre as soon as possible but many of the client conversations in Thames already happened over the phone, and she expected clients should still be able to complete their appointments. PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons told Checkpoint there had been long-standing issues with the working environment at the Thames office which was supposed to be a temporary site. These concerns came to a head on Monday and health and safety representatives at the office had since issued MSD with a Provisional Improvement Notice under the Health and Safety at Work Act. She said the PSA was working on ensuring workers were not disadvantaged by any alternative options proposed and that they would continue to support workers through this. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CyEx Welcomes Wes Alford as Executive Vice President of Client Services
BOSTON, June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CyEx, a leading provider of cyber and data breach response solutions, today announces the appointment of Wes Alford as Executive Vice President of Client Services overseeing client and partner engagement, operations, and business management. Alford will report directly to CyEx founder and President, Jerry Thompson, and will work alongside him to lead the day-to-day operations of the business. Alford brings more than 20 years of experience working with both plaintiff and defense firms in the class action administration industry. He will play an integral role in all areas of CyEx's operations, with a focus on delivering exceptional service to clients and strengthening key partnerships. Prior to joining CyEx, Alford served as Executive Vice President at Simpluris, where he led both Client Services and Operations. Over the course of his career, Alford has provided expert analysis and guidance across high-profile legal and remediation matters, including the Equifax Data Breach Settlement, Allagas v. BP Solar International, and the Rimler v. Postmates class action. Alford previously led the development and go to market strategy for Simpluris' industry leading mass arbitration administration practice and will continue to oversee that vertical while expanding and enhancing the product offering at CyEx. Alford is a veteran of the United States Navy, where he served as both a senior enlisted advisor and a limited duty officer specializing in next-generation warfighting capabilities and technologies. During his service, he led a team of more than 80 across six global deployments. He holds a Master of Science in Project Management from Northeastern University and maintains both PMP and Certified Scrum Master certifications. Alford's blend of legal administration expertise and operational leadership positions him as a key driver of CyEx's next phase of growth and client service excellence. For more information about CyEx's leadership team please visit For inquiries or assistance, please contact press@ About CyExCyEx is the leading provider of data breach solutions, specializing in credit, identity, financial, minor, medical, and privacy data risks. CyEx's innovative and class-leading product portfolio ensures solutions that meet the unique needs of each incident. Since launching in 2020, CyEx has serviced over 700 cases, including Capital One, T-Mobile, Home Depot, and Morgan Stanley. CyEx is a part of Point Wild – a global leader in cybersecurity. To learn more about CyEx, visit About Point WildPoint Wild is a global leader in cybersecurity, protecting individuals and businesses from the ever-evolving threats of the digital world. Powered by a unified product platform and more than 20 years of expertise, our industry-leading brands deliver best-in-class security solutions-including device protection, online privacy and identity theft prevention-to move more than 25 million users worldwide. To learn more, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE CyEx Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
